56. On the Appian Way. Respighi

Last year we got some tickets to the Toronto Symphony. I chose this concert because I recognized Respighi (they used to play stuff from his Ancient Airs and Dances on CBC2 a lot, but that's really all I knew of him). We had great seats at the back of the orchestra; the sound was wonderful. They opened the concert with Italiana (Ancient airs and dances, Suite No.3). I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Later in the concert, they played The Pines of Rome, four short pieces. The opening piece is supposed to portray children playing among the pines of Villa Borghese; it's striking because it's written all in the treble clef (even the parts for low instruments like the cello and bassoon). This makes the sound quite brilliant and even shrill, for which reason Dr S did not like it. She didn't like On the Appian Way, either, for the same reason that I do like it; the sound crescendos gradually until it's blasting out (when the orchestra played, the trumpets were standing up in the choir stalls). This is a scene of an army (I'm thinking an ancient Roman army) approaching from the distance, coming closer until they're right on top of you. Although it starts off kind of menacing, it ends up being a very triumphal, even happy-sounding piece (so it's not very politically correct). Boy, did that Respighi write some evocative music!